Tag

peers

When it comes to choosing a school for your student, first impressions are vital to making a decision, and those impressions are most often made during the admissions process. From application to interviews with leadership, the admissions process can look very different from school to school. We feel that All Saints Academy has honed the art of this process into something unique, enjoyable for students and parents, and effective in continuing our legacy of excellence in education. So, just what sets the ASA application process apart from other schools?

First, we are highly personal with potential families from the start. From the moment you click on that Application page on our website (found here), you have access to our Director of Admissions who is always ready and willing to answer any of your questions, address any concerns, and walk you through each step so you can move forward with confidence. You aren’t just “another number” or a random application coming through the system. You are seen, heard, and valued as a potential ASA family and we want to be here for you from the very beginning.

Once you send in your student’s application, he or she will be asked to schedule an entrance exam. Students applying for Pre-K through Grade 3 will have a time scheduled for an on-campus evaluation to determine their readiness for the upcoming year, whereas students entering Grade 4 and above will most likely be asked to take the SSAT, especially if applying from out of town. We do have in-house assessments available, given here at the school for those that shadow with us. Our Lower School candidates work one-on-one with Donna Lyle to complete the K-TEA III (r1-r6) and the NIH Toolbox (PS2-PK). Rising 7-12 graders take the OLSAT 8 here in Admissions. We also offer financial assistance with any applicable testing fees in some circumstances, and we provide assistance in scheduling the exams, so feel free to contact us about this at any time. Following the evaluation/testing, students ages 2nd grade through 5th grade are also asked to provide a teacher recommendation and submit a candidate questionnaire. Students 6th grade and up must give both an English instructor and Math instructor recommendation, in addition to the candidate questionnaire. Once these steps are completed, if results are satisfactory, the student will move on to the next step in the ASA application process, which is where the real magic begins.

During the application process, students are invited onto campus for a “Shadow Day,” where they are paired with a current student in their own grade level. This peer is their buddy for the day, and your student will go with them through an entire “day in the life” at All Saints Academy, from lockers to lunch and everything in between. Unlike a basic visit where you walk through with the Principal or office assistant, this experience gives your child a true sense of what everyday learning and living is like at ASA, and is a great way to make an informed decision about whether or not our school is a great fit for your student. For students who are currently 5th grade (Lower School) but are applying for their 6th grade year (Middle School), he will be placed with a 5th grade peer, but will spend a portion of their day with a 6th grade student as well so they get the best of both worlds: meeting their (hopefully) future peers, but also getting an idea of the Middle School campus and classes.

Another unique aspect of the application and admissions process at ASA is how we do our tours. School tours for both the Middle and Upper School are not done by administrators or a teacher, but rather, from the students that are actually attending our school. Our Student Ambassadors (a group of Upper School students dedicated to welcoming new faces at All Saints) offer tours of our campus during their advisory periods during certain times each week. If you are interested in one of these tours, you can contact our office and learn more! Here’s what some of our current students had to say about their own application process:

“I really liked everything in the process…everyone was very nice and supportive. I loved the process, and I love the school.”

-Erica, Grade 10

“I really liked how everyone was friendly and welcoming during my shadow day.”

-Ciara, Grade 10

We look forward to welcoming all new students for the 2018-2019 school year, and can’t wait to have them as part of the ASA family for years to come. Please feel free to contact us if you think we are the right fit for your family, and know we are here to answer any questions and help in any way we can. See you soon!